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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Mid-Year Music Roundup: The Top 5 Albums of 2013 Pt. 2

Happy July, San Antonio! This week, seven of our music writers will be taking turns listing what they believe to be the top 5 albums of 2013

so far. We began with M.R. Brown, now we present new Current contributor Kasia Pilat's picks. Let us know in the comments what your favorite new music of 2013 is and check in tomorrow for the next installment.

1. The National -- Trouble Will Find Me

This one's a given for me. As someone who unquestioningly loves and adores any and everything this Ohio-born, New York-bred band does, it was inevitable this album would appear at the top of my list. It's not as raw as some of their much earlier releases, and by no means as jaw-dropping as High Violet, but it speaks to a maturity that only years of experience can bring. "Don't Swallow the Cap" is by far one of the band's most brilliant songs, let alone the best on the record.

2. Foxygen –- We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic

Have you listened to this album? No? What are you doing? That's not important. Stop doing it, and listen to this album. It's hippie-dippie heyday-era Haight Ashbury meets Miniature Tigers. It's got doo-wap-esque background vocals, chiming piano notes that wander about just like the most perfect of acid trips, and overall its dreamy synth pop makes everything nice and fuzzy. "Shuggie" is my personal favorite, but "We Are the 21st Centure Ambassadors

" will make you want to play guitar atop a surfboard.

3. CHVRCHES -- Recover EP

Chvrches has been popping up all over the place lately, and for good reason. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is as sweet-looking as her confident vocals, and she leads the way for the synth-and-bleep-blap sonosphere that the rest of the group seems to create effortlessly. Think Grimes meets Robyn meets Passion Pit with a splash of Kate Bush, and then listen to "Recover." Then get really excited for their first full-length, The Bones of What You Believe, due out later this year.

4. Haim -- Falling

The sisters Haim are ones to watch, and not only because they are absolutely incredibly good-looking. Like, really, really good-looking. But they not only look good, they sound good too. They're all the good parts of '80s pop music (bouncy beats, echo-infused vocals) without any of the shoulder pads. This entry is cheating a little bit because the trio has yet to release a full-length album, but I think we can all expect quite great things from their debut, slated for release this September.

5. The Knife –- Shaking the Habitual

Though my heart will forever belong to The National (once again, marry me, Matt Berninger), The Knife takes the cake for most insane album of not only 2013, but maybe also ever. It's most reminiscent of some unknown, underground Berlin nightclub at about 4:30 am on a Tuesday night -- completely unpredictable, entrancing, and a total banger. The Swedish siblings grab you right away -- and Karin Dreijer Andersson's cryptic vocals juxtaposed with the record's eery, quieter moments, simply won't let you you go.

Note: I've heard that Vampire Weekend, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Marnie Stern, Deerhunter, Kurt Vile, Daft Punk and Yo La Tengo have also released albums that are supposed to be amazing, but sadly and embarrassingly I have yet to listen to any of these. My apologies to the artists and you, fair reader, for failing in my audiophilic tasks.